In the sleepy enclave of Riverside in Greenwich, Connecticut, a little girl named Ali spent her charmed childhood exploring the outdoors and wondering about the big red barns next door.
Ali’s neighbors were the third owners of the two-acre chestnut farm and classic Colonial farmhouse built by Charles Lockwood in 1804.
The property featured a small barn that served as a summer kitchen and a larger one packed with curiosities, including an old-time car and boxes of centuries-old artifacts and memorabilia.
A cannon dating back to the Revolutionary War was even found in the loft.
Decades later, when the farm was set to be demolished by developers, Ali purchased the land to save it.
She worked to restore it for her growing family, transforming the big red barns into a playhouse for her four children and a shop for her vintage and antique wares.
Ali inherited her love of antiques from her parents, who were avid collectors of early American folk art and painted furniture.
She prefers a mix of old and new, high and low, painted and natural, and started dealing antiques as a side job when her kids were babies.
Now that her children are in their 20s, Ali has cleared out the playhouse to make room for more of her fabulous finds.
The larger barn holds tables, benches, chairs, architectural elements, and large-scale lighting, while the smaller barn features antique artwork, urns, and assorted bric-a-brac.
Ali loves anything with a story, and her collection includes cultural relics like Nantucket baskets handwoven by members of the Kane clan.
Even a simple spoon can become a conversation-starter at the dinner table, according to Ali.
When entertaining, Ali favors casual alfresco get-togethers with an eclectic mix of barefoot guests and their four-legged friends.
She believes nothing is too fragile or fancy to enjoy outdoors and often hauls her antique furniture onto the lawn.
For flowers, Ali enlists the help of Dana Worlock of Hedgerow Flower Farm + Studio, who helps cultivate her exquisite gardens.
Together, they create freshly foraged arrangements that trail the table set with vintage linens and heirloom wedding china.
Ali’s approach to entertaining is about bringing the indoors out, creating a sense of whimsy that enhances her guests’ experience.
She doesn’t get nervous about using her precious pieces or exposing them to the outdoor elements, saying many of them have survived centuries of use.
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